Control Zone Devices, Systems And Methods

Abstract

Control zone devices that integrate a valve, filter, and pressure regulator within a single device are provided. Specifically, the control zone devices include a main body having a base portion with an inlet passage and an outlet passage attachable to a conduit and a body portion extending from the base portion having an interior for receiving a filter. The control zone devices further include a valve body including a solenoid bowl for attaching a solenoid and an interface cap for removably coupling the valve body to the main body of the control zone device and forming an interface between the valve body and the main body to operate the valve. The control zone devices also include a pressure regulator. In some configurations, the pressure regulator is positioned in a vent flow path of the valve body downstream of the solenoid for regulating pressure at the valve.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A device comprising:
 a main body including an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a body portion, the body portion in fluid communication with the inlet passage and the outlet passage and defining a chamber for receiving a filter;   a valve housing and a diaphragm defining a pressure chamber therebetween, the valve housing further comprising a solenoid bowl for attaching a solenoid and a solenoid vent passage to selectively vent fluid from the pressure chamber to control movement of the diaphragm relative to a valve seat;   an interface for communicating with a pressure regulator for regulating flow of fluid from the outlet passage; and   a cap forming an interface between the body portion and the valve housing, the cap including a first portion attached to the body portion, a second portion attached to the valve housing, and a cap vent passage in fluid communication with the solenoid vent passage.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising a pressure regulator in communication with the interface. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure regulator is disposed in the outlet passage. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the interface is defined in the valve housing. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the interface is in fluid communication with the solenoid vent passage and a pressure regulator vent passage is downstream of the solenoid vent passage in the valve housing and in fluid communication with the cap vent passage. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising a flow tube extending along the chamber of the main body coupled to the inlet passage or the outlet passage. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein an end of the flow tube is coupled to the inlet passage, and the flow tube defines in part an inflow passage towards the valve seat. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein an end of the flow tube is coupled to the outlet passage, and the flow tube defines in part an outflow passage from the valve seat. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the cap includes threading to attach to the body portion so that the cap can be twisted off the body portion to access the chamber while remaining attached to the valve housing and the diaphragm. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the cap vent passage discharges fluid into the body portion downstream of the filter. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the diaphragm includes a valve element that engages or disengages the valve seat. 
     
     
         33 . A device comprising:
 a main body including an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a body portion, the body portion in fluid communication with the inlet passage and the outlet passage and defining a chamber for receiving a filter;   a valve housing and a diaphragm defining a pressure chamber therebetween, the valve housing further comprising a solenoid bowl for attaching a solenoid and a vent passage to selectively vent fluid from the pressure chamber to control movement of the diaphragm relative to a valve seat;   a cap forming an interface between the body portion and the valve housing, the cap including a first portion attached to the valve housing, a second portion attachable to the body portion, the second portion including first threading engageable with second threading of the body portion so that the cap can be twisted off the body portion to access the chamber while remaining attached to the valve housing and the diaphragm.   
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , further comprising a socket for receiving a pressure regulator for regulating flow of fluid from the outlet passage. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the socket is defined in the valve housing and the vent passage includes a solenoid portion extending from the solenoid bowl to the socket, and a pressure regulator portion extending from the socket and being in fluid communication with an interior of the cap. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein a distance the diaphragm moves relative to the valve seat is controlled by a pressure regulator received in the socket regulating a rate fluid vents from the pressure chamber through the vent passage. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , further comprising the pressure regulator received in the socket and a pressure sensor in the pressure regulator. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the socket is defined in the main body. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 33 , the cap defining a passage in communication with the vent passage, and the passage discharges fluid into the body portion downstream of the filter when the filter is received in the chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the diaphragm is sandwiched between the valve housing and the cap. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 33 , further comprising a differential pressure sensor for monitoring a filter disposed in the chamber.